BEIRUT (AP) — Hundreds of Syrian government supporters attacked the U.S. Embassy in Damascus on Monday, smashing windows and spray-painting walls with obscenities and graffiti that called the U.S. ambassador a “dog.” Guards at the French Embassy fired in the air to ward off other protesters.

The sharp escalation in tensions followed a visit last week by the U.S. and French ambassadors to the city of Hama, a stronghold of opposition to authoritarian President Bashar Assad. Syrian authorities were angered by the visit and U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford’s criticism afterward of the government crackdown on a four-month-old uprising. Ford’s residence also was attacked Monday.

The U.S. and France both accused Syrian forces of being too slow to respond and demanded the government abide by its international obligations to protect diplomatic missions and allow envoys freedom of movement. The U.S. formally protested, calling the attacks “outrageous,” and saying protesters were incited by a TV station influenced by Syrian authorities.

“Ford get out now,” protesters wrote on a paper hung on the U.S. Embassy’s fence. “The people want to kick out the dog,” read graffiti scrawled in red on the wall of the embassy, along with another line cursing America.